Apparatus for and method of fanning, rolling and banding flexible sheets



Aug. 2, 1966 R. G. DEXTER AND METHOD OF FANNING APPARATUS FOR ROLLINGAND BANDING FLEXIBLE SHEETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1963 1N VENTOR. Robe/f6. Dex/er A T TOPNE Y Aug. 2, 1966 R. e. DEXTER APPARATUS FORAND METHOD OF FANNING, ROLLING AND BANDING FLEXIBLE SHEETS 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1963 UV/m INVENT'OR. Roberf G. Dexfer BY WA TTOQNE Y Aug. 2, 1966 R. e. DEXTER APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OFFANNING, ROLLING AND BANDING FLEXIBLE SHEETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July5, 1965 A T TOR/V5 Y Aug. 2, 1966 R. G. DEXTER APPARATUS FOR AND METHODOF FANNING, ROLLING AND BANDING FLEXIBLE SHEETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJuly 5, 1965 FIG."

INVENTOR. IQObQ/V 6. Dex/er fMMLWLJ FIG.8

ATTORNEY Aug. 2, 1966 R. G. DEXTER 3,263,390

APPARATUS FOR AND METHCD OF FANNING, ROLLING AND BANDING FLEXIBLE SHEETSFiled July 5, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Roberf 6. Dexfer A 7'TOIQNE Y Aug. 2, 1966 APPARATUS FOR ANT) METHOD OF FANNING, ROLLINGFiled July 5, 1963 R ca. DEXTER 3,263,390

AND BANDING FLEXIBLE SHEETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 END CYCLE STARTS TD3 I ISTARTS TD4| l START OF CYCLE ON Cl FEED OFF ON LS3 BELT SWITCH 1 OFF INST ARM 1 OUT c2 BELT ON oFF ON LS4 SIZE SWITCH oFF ON RI LS6 OFF RUN csTAPE FEED STOP ON s2 TAPE cLAMP oFF ON LS5 TAPE SWITCH oFF ON T 0| oFFON TD2 oFF ON 53 BELT CLAMP.

oFF

ON TUE OFF ON M2 DOFFER OFF FWD RSI DOFFER REV LSIDOFFER OFF ON LS2DOFFER OFF FIG.|2

INVENTOR. lQoberf G. Dexzer ATTORNEY United States Patent APPARATUd FORAND METHOD OF FANNING,

RULLHNG AND BANDENG FLEXIBLE SHEETS Robert Gordon Dexter, Harvard,Mass., assignor to Barkley & Baxter, Incorporated, Fitehburg, Mass, acorporation of Massachusetts Filed .l'uly 5, 1963, Ser. No. 292,965 30Claims. (Cl. 53-21) This invention relates to apparatus for fanning,rolling and banding flexible sheets, and more particularly to a methodof and apparatus for fanning flexible sheets.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel method of and noveland improved apparatus for fanning flexible sheets capable of fanning astack of flexible sheets in a simple, rapid and efficient manner to forman elongated strip or web of fanned sheets of substantially uniformthickness adapted to be rolled and banded.

The invention has for a further object to provide novel apparatus forfanning, rolling and banding flexible sheets embodying novel bandingmechanism and which is also characterized by novel control mechanismarranged to effect automatic operation of the apparatus in a controlledsequence whereby to automatically produce successive banded rolls offanned sheets.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the sheet fanning mechanism asembodied in apparatus for fanning, rolling and banding flexible sheetsin the sequential control mechanism, and in the various structures,arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described andparticularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of apparatus for fanning, rolling and bandingpaper sheets;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the sheet fanning mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional detail view illustrating the sheet fanningelements in a position to initiate the fanning of a stack of papersheets;

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the fanning elements at the end oftheir first downward stroke;

FIG. 7 is a detail view in cross section showing the fanning elements inclamping engagement with the fanned sheets;

FIG. 8 is a detail view in cross section showing the fanning elements atthe end of the upstroke and illustrating the fanned arrangement of thesheets at the end of the first fanning cycle;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the fanning mechanism aftercontinued fanning operations, the fanning elements being shown in anintermediate position during the down stroke;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the relative position of thefanning elements in an intermediate position during their upstroke;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a rolled and banded group or package offanned sheets; and

FIG. 12 is a timing diagram to be referred to.

In general the present invention contemplates novel apparatus forfanning, rolling and handing flexible sheets embodying novel fanningmechanism adapted to spread or fan flexible sheets outwardly from thebottom of a stack thereof to produce an elongated web or length offanned sheets of a predetermined and substantially uniform thicknessadapted to be rolled and banded. The term fanned or fanning as usedherein is intended 3,263,390 Patented August 2, 1966 to define a lateralspreading of a group of stacked sheets to separate the edges thereofuniformly. In practice such rolls of fanned and handed sheets maycomprise rolls or packages of information leaflets adapted to beunbanded and released from an airplane, the fanning of the sheetsfacilitating the separation of the sheets when discharged from theairplane whereby to provide wider distribution of the leaflets as theyfall and when they reach the ground.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention provision is made forsupporting a stack of sheets to be fanned and for bending downwardlyfrom a horizontal to a vertical position the forward portion of a groupof the lowermost sheets at the bottom of the stack so that the loweredge of the group assumes an angular formation wherein the edges of thesheet are fanned out a relatively small initial distance. Provision isthen made for clamping the forward portion of the group and retainingthe same in its fanned position while the group is returned to ahorizontal position. As a result the group of sheets in the bottom ofthe stack will be pulled forwardly a distance equal to the amount thatthe edges of the individual sheets are spread or fanned relative to theuppermost sheet of the group. Thus, the uppermost sheet of the groupwill be returned substantially to its initial position while thelowermost sheet will be pulled forwardly a maximum distance, interveningsheets being pulled for Wardly in progressively lesser amounts.Subsequent bending down, clamping and returning operations, accomplishedwith great rapidity, will effect progressively increased fanning orseparation of the edges of the sheets and advancing movement of thegroup from the bottom of the stack until the lowermost sheets areentirely withdrawn from the stack whereupon additional sheets are addedto the group from the stack as the lowermost sheets are advanced wherebyto provide an elongated web or length of uniformly fanned sheets ofpredetermined thickness adapted to be rolled and handed.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 illustrating aschematic outline of the entire fanning, banding and rolling apparatus,10 represents a stack of flexible sheets or leaflets to be fanned, and12 represents the fanning mechanism which is arranged to fan andwithdraw a group of the lowermost sheets in the stack and to advance thefanned sheets in the form of a continuous length or web 14 onto aconveyer 16. The Web 14 is carried by the conveyer 16 to rolling orwinding mechanism, indicated generally at 18, where provision is madefor rolling the web about a mandrel 20 to form a roll of the fannedsheets of a predetermined diameter. Thereafter, provision is made forapplying a band about the roll of sheets by handing mechanism, indicatedgenerally at 22, and which includes means for feeding a predeterminedlength of the banding material, winding the band around the roll,applying adhesive to the trailing end of the band and cutting the band.The trailing end of the band is arranged to overlap the leading endthereof as it is Wound about the roll to adhesively secure the ends andthereafter the banded roll of fanned sheets is removed from the mandrelto produce the roll 24 shown in FIG. 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, illustrating the tanning mechanism 12,the stack of sheets 10 is supported in a magazine, indicated generallyat 50, having a fixed front Wall 52, an adjustable rear wall 54, andadjustable side walls 56, 58 to accommodate different sizes of the papersheets to be fanned. The stack 10 may be vertical or, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the front and rear walls may be provided with wedge shapedfillers 60, 62 respectively arranged to support the stack in arearwardly inclined position so that the front edges of the sheets willbe initially arranged at a slight angle in the direction in which thesheets are to be fanned. The bottom of the stack is supported on ahorizontal table which includes a fiat shelf or plate 64 having aturned-down forward edge 66 which terminates a predetermined distancerearwardly from the forward edge of the bottom of the stack and overwhich the sheets are bent to perform the fanning operation. The plate 64may be supported on the machine platen 68 forming a part of the machineframe 70 as shown.

The side walls of the frame 70 are extended upwardly and forwardly atthe front end of the machine as indicated at 72, and an angle member tiepiece 74 extending between the extended portions forms a support for theupstanding front wall 52 and the filler piece 60 of the magazine whichmay be secured to the front wall. Opposed upstanding brackets 76, alsosecured to said extended portions 72, are arranged to adjustably supportrods 78 connected to the side walls 56, 58 of the magazine to permitlateral adjustment thereof. The rear wall 54 of the magazine is mountedon a support 80 which overlies the plate 64 and is provided with adepending tongue 82 fitted into and adjustably movable in an elongatedslot 84 formed in the plate 64 and platen 68. A cooperating clampingmember 86 overlying the underside of the platen is provided with acorresponding tongue fitted into the slot 84. The member 86 is providedwith an upstanding threaded bolt 88 which extends through an opening inthe upper support 80, and a clamp unit 90 cooperates with the bolt toclamp the unit in its adjusted position.

The extended portions 72 of the frame also support opposed bearingblocks 92, 94 in which a pair of outer rocker arms 96, 98 and a pair ofinner rocker arms 100, 102 are pivotally supported. The outer rockerarms 96, 98 have extended between them a rod 104 which carries a blademember 106 arranged to engage the forward edges of a group of lowermostsheets in the stack and bend them downwardly from a horizontal to avertical position about the corner or radius of the forward edge of thesupporting plate 64 and parallel to the depending portion 66 thereof. Asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower end of the front wall portion 60 ofthe magazine terminates a predetermined distance above the bottom of thestack. In a preferred embodiment of the invention this distance may beabout one quarter of an inch, and the bottom of the stack may extendbeyond the forward end of the plate 64 about one and one-half inches.When the blade member 106 is rocked downwardly it engages the forwardend of the stack about one quarter of an inch above the bottom of thestack, as shown, to bend the overhanging sheets downwardly over the edgeof the plate 64 to the position shown in FIG. 6. Each outer rocker arm96, 98 is pivotally mounted on a stationary pin 108 formed integrallywith an enlarged diameter portion 110 fixed in the bearing brackets 92,94, and each arm 96, 98 is confined from lateral movement by anintermediate web 112 of its bearing block and by a cover member 114 asshown. Each arm 96, 98 is also provided with a ball bearing 116 fittedover its pivot pin 108. The ball bearings 116 may preferably be of theaircraft type shielded and sealed double row bearings to exclude paperdust.

The outer rocker arms 96, 98 are connected by similar links 118 toeccentric straps 120 mounted to cooperate with eccentrics 122 adjustablysecured to the outer ends of a shaft 124. The shaft 124 is journaled inbearing brackets 126 attached -to the machine frame, and the shaft maybe continuously rotated by an electric motor, not shown, connected by abelt 128 to a pulley 130 fast on the shaft. The straps 120 may also beprovided with ball bearings 132 as indicated in cross section in FIG. 4to reduce friction to a minimum.

The inner rocker arms 100, 102 have extended between them a clampingmember 134 arranged to cooperate with the blade member 106. The clampingmember is preferably provided with a resilient rubberlike clampingelement 136, and the rocker arms are similarly mounted on pivot pins 138extended from the opposite face of the enlarged diameter portions 110.The pivot pins 138 are offset upwardly and outwardly from the pivot pins108 as shown to obtain efficient coordination between the clampingmember and the blade member during the fanning operation. Each arm 100,102 is confined between the intermediate web 112 of its bearing block onone side and on the other side by a face plate 140 secured to theupwardly extended portions 72 of the frame and may also be provided withball bearings 142 as shown. The inner rocker arms 100, 102 are similarlyconnected by links 144 to eccentric straps 146 mounted to cooperate witheccentrics 148 adjustably secured to opposite ends of the shaft 124 andseparated from the eccentrics 122 by spacers 150. The straps 146 mayalso be provided with ball bearings similar to those shown at 132. Alsoprovided for the shaft 124 are a pair of eccentric weights or disks 125fast on hub portions 149 of the inner eccentrics 148 and which areadjusted relative to the eccentrics 122, 148 to serve the purpose ofstatically and dynamically balancing the eccentrics on the shaft toavoid excessive vibration. It will be noted that the provision ofduplicate eccentric mechanism at both ends of the shaft 124 to rock thearms 96, 98 and 100, 102 at both ends of the blade member 106 and theclamping element 136, respectively, serves to prevent torsionaldeflections in the arms.

In practice the eccentrics or eccentric cams 122, 148 are adjusted outof phase with each other so as to space the high points of the cams anarcuate distance of about fifteen degrees apart on the shaft 124. Thisout of phase relationship of the fanning elements is arranged in amanner such that the blade 106 and the clamp 136 are spaced apart duringthe downstroke to permit the group of sheets to freely assume theirspread or fanned condition as they are bent downwardly about the roundededge of the plate 64 and such that the blade and the clamp cooperate toclamp the sheets therebetween during the upstroke to maintain the samein their fanned condition during their return to a horizontal position.In other words the clamp 136 starts its downstroke before the blade 106and also starts its upstroke before the blade 106. The centers 108, 138,respectively, and the radii of the blade arms 96, 98 and the clamp arms100, 182 are so disposed that the top sheet of the group will bereturned to its original position, and the bottom sheet will be advancedan amount equal to the fanning produced on the downstroke. As a resultthe underlying sheets are pulled forwardly so that during subsequentfanning operations, accomplished with great rapidity, the sheets are fedforwardly an additional and equal amount each cycle of operation toincrease the distance between the edges of adjacent sheets until thebottom sheet of the group feeds completely out from under the stack andoff the shelf 64. Thereafter, additional sheets are added to the groupfrom the stack each cycle of operation as successive underlying sheetsare completely withdrawn from the bottom of the group, and continuedfanning operations will produce the elongated strip 14 of uniformlyfanned sheets of predetermined and substantially uniform thicknessadapted to be rolled and banded.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the initial bending and clamping operationsupon a group of lowermost sheets supported in the stack. The position ofthe fanning and clamping elements shown in FIG. 5 is such that theclamping element 136 has started its downward stroke, and the blademember 106 has also started its downward stroke from the upper limit ofits stroke to a position where it has just engaged the edge of thelowermost sheet forming the group to be fanned. The position of thefanning elements shown in FIG. 6 is such that the blade member 106 hasreached the limit of its downward stroke, and the clamping element 136has already started its return stroke to engage the lowermost sheet ofthe group to clamp the fanned end of the group of sheets between theblade and the clamp. FIG. 7 shows the clamping element 136 in resilientclamping engagement with the group, and during the upward stroke thefanning and clamping elements maintain the sheets in their fannedcondition so that when the sheets are returned to their initial positionthe group will retain their fanned condtiion, as shown in FIG. 8, andwherein the fanning and clamping elements are disposed in the sameposition as in FIG. 5 at the start of a second fanning cycle.

The illustrated method of fanning is based on the principle that whenone end of a group of sheets of predetermined thickness, one quarter ofan inch in thickness for example, is bent over a right angle corner,fanning of the ends of the sheets results. This phenomenon is explainedby the fact that the outer sheet bend around a larger radius than theinner sheets, thus shortening the ends of the outer sheets.

The amount of shortening of the end of the outer sheet in comparisonwith the inner sheet can be computed as follows:

Where R equals bend radius of inner sheet R equals bend radius of outersheet T equals thickness of stack L equals length of ends of both sheetsbefore bending L equals length of end of inner sheet beyond bend Lequals length of outer sheet beyond bend F equals difference in lengthof inner and outer sheet beyond bend equals total fanning of stackLength used up in bend (inner sheet) equals 2piR /4 Length used up inbend (outer sheet) equals 2piR /4 F equals L L equals L2piR /4L plus2piR /4 equals pi/2 (R R but R R equals T; therefore, F equals piT/ZTherefore, the amount of fanning for a 90 bend equals F equals piT/ 2and is dependent only on the pile thickness and not the radius of bend.

Therefore, for a 4 inch thick pile, a 90 bend will produce a fanning ofthe pile of inches or approximately inch.

For 50 pound offset paper, there are approximately 268 sheets in oneinch of thickness or 67 sheets in 4 inch thicknesseach sheet isapproximately .0037 inch thick.

Thus, one 90 bend will fan each sheet approximately In practice 4 inchof the bottom of the stack of leaflets will be bent down 90 over theshelf near the front end of sheets to produce this effect.

If, after bending down, the 4 inch pile is tightly gripped at its frontedge and restraightened so that its top sheet reutrns to its originalposition, the sheets beneath will be fanned forward a total of inch.

A repetition of the above cycle will produce the same amount of fanningagain.

If 5 /2 X 8 inch sheets are being run and the bottom sheet is advanced4; inch at each cycle, the bottom sheet will feed completely out fromunder the stack and off the shelf in equals .0058 inch (approximately)equals 16 cycles Once the bottom sheet clears the shelf, each cycle willfeed the bottom of the web of fanned sheets ahead inch and with thesheets fanned .093 each equals .093 inch equals 4 plus or slightly morethan four new sheets will be fed at each cycle.

To feed 2000 sheets per minute would then require 500 cycles per minuteand 4-000 sheets per minute can theoretically be fed at 1000 cycles perminute.

As herein shown, the continuous length or web of fanned sheets 14 thusproduced is received and advanced on the conveyer 16 to the rollingdevice 18. Since the bending of the sheets at the fanning station 12will cause rapid oscillations of the web both up and down and endwiseand a scrubbing between sheets will occur, the conveyer 16 is preferablydisposed below the shelf 64 and provision is made for controlling theupward bounce of the web. For this purpose, flat springs 152 may beprovided, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, which may be secured at one end tothe machine frame, the free ends of the flat springs extending over theweb to confine the sheets and to limit the upward movement of the webduring the fanning operations. Also, in order to control the feed of thesheets and to retain the sheets in the web after they are entirelywithdrawn from the stack, a pair of nip rolls 154, 156 may be provided.In practice the nip rolls must be positioned at a distance of one sheetlength from the end of the shelf 64 so that just as the trailing end ofa sheet leaves the shelf the forward or leading end thereof will enterthe nip rolls. The nip rolls 154, 156 may be carried by shafts 155, 157,respectively, journaled in bearing blocks 153 mounted for adjustmentlongitudinally of the web in slots 160 provided in upper and lowersupport bars 162, 164 as indicated in FIG. 9. The conveyer 16 may bedriven in any usual or preferred manner (not shown) to maintain thespeed of advance of the web withdrawn from the magazine, and the niprolls 154, 156 may likewise be rotated at a circumferential speed equalto the linear speed of the conveyer.

The rolling of the web of fanned sheets 14 may be accomplished in aconventional manner and, as schematically indicated in FIG. 1, therolling mechanism 18 includes an endless rolling belt 200 which may beguided around upper and lower rolls 202, 204 and around the mandrel 20.The upper and lower rolls 202, 204- form a pocket 206 into which theleading end of the web is received to be wrapped around the mandrel. Thebelt 200 is also guided around idler rolls 2%, 210, 212, 214 defining agenerally hexagonal area within which the roll is free to expand duringthe rolling operation. The endless rolling belt 200 then passes over aroll 216 and a belt takeup or tensioning roll 218 carried by ahorizontally movable block 220 which is urged in a direction to take upthe slack in the belt by an elongated spring 222. The belt then passesaround rolls 224, 226 and between cooperating drive rolls 228, 230 andthen up to the roll 204 forming the bottom roll of the pocket 206.

The mandrel 20 may be mounted in bearings arranged to move horizontallyduring the winding operation from a position shown in full lines at thestart of the winding operation to a central position shown in brokenlines in FIG. 1 at the end of the winding operation. In operation, afterthe leading end of the web 14 enters the pocket 206, the leading endwill be carried around the mandrel by the rolling belt 200. At thispoint the belt may be relaxed sufliciently to permit entry of the webbetween the belt and the mandrel. In order to guide the leading end ofthe web 14 into the nip of the belt 200 and the underside of the mandrel20 a curved guide plate 201 is arranged to enter the pocket 206 at thistime. The plate 201 is carried by a solenoid operated bell crank 203 andis arranged to be withdrawn after the initial winding or rollingoperation. As the leading end of the web makes its first revolution itwill contact the incoming web and be carried around again to continuethe winding operation. As the roll being wound increases in diameter thehorizontally movable mandrel 20 will be automatically moved to the rightby the increase in diameter of the roll. When the roll diameter reachesa predetermined size, provision is made for automatically stopping thefanning mechanism. The banding mechanism 22 will then be automaticallyactivated to apply a band 25 around the roll, and the completed roll maythen be stripped from the mandrel by dofling mechanism indicatedgenerally at 27 in FIG. 2. It will be noted that in rolling the webfurther fanning occurs since the sheets on the underside of the fannedweb which lead the sheets on the upper side of the web have to travelfarther as they are rolled by an amount depending on the thickness ofthe web. This effect is cumulative as the web is rolled. For eachrotation of the roll with a web of T thickness, this gain is 2 pi T, orfor a one-quarter inch web pi/2 equals 1.57 inches.

From this it will be seen that the bottom of the web which contacts therolling belts must run faster than the top of the Web. Hence, inpractice the rolling belt 200 is run faster than the conveyer 16. Thedifference in speed of the outside and inside of the web in rolling, andhence the difference in speed of the top and bottom of the web, as itenters the rolling pocket 206, is not constant since at the beginning ofthe rolling operation more revolutions per inch of web occur than at theend. Thus, in practice the rolling belt 200 is run fast enough toprovide the maximum speed differential so as to keep the web undertension at all times as the roll increases in diameter, and as a resultwill produce additional fanning rather than cause buckling of the web.

In general, as diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 1, the bandingmechanism 22 may include means for supporting a roll of banding tape300; a pair of feed rolls 302, 304 for automatically prefeeding andlooping a length of tape in an amount related to the circumference ofthe completed roll into a magazine 306; feed rolls 308, 310 foradvancing the prefed tape along a curved guide 312 and into the nip ofthe rolling belt 200 and the outside diameter of the roll of fannedsheets. The tape is thus also guided into operative position to a springloaded guide 313, a stationary serrated knife blade 314 and an adhesiveapplying head 316.

The mechanism for prefeeding and looping a length of banding tape in anamount related to the circumference of the roll includes a connectionsuch as a lever 318 carried by the belt tension block 220 and connectedat its lower end to an endless chain 320 which runs over sprockets 322,324. The sprocket 324 is mounted on a shaft 326 which has a secondsprocket 328 connected by a chain 330 to a sprocket 332 to drive theprefeeding roll 302 at a ratio of 2 to 1.

It'will be observed that during the rolling operation the belt takeupblock 220 moves from its full line position at the left to its dottedline position at the right shown in FIG. 1 which comprises a distanceequal to one half the change in circumference of the roll as itincreases in diameter in the rolling belt. Thus, the prefeed roll 302will be rotated through the 2 to 1 drive to prefeed a length of bandingtape equal to the circumference of the roll. In practice the drive ratiowill be slightly over 2. to 1 to provide an additional length foroverlapping the ends of the tape and adhesively securing the sametogether.

While the tape prefeeding rolls 302, 304 are (feeding and looping thetape into the magazine 306, the 'tape advancing rolls 308, 310 are idle,and the tape is clamped therebetween. When the roll of fanned sheetsreaches its predetermined diameter the feed roll 304 will be moved awayfrom its cooperating roll 302 and simultaneously therewith, a solenoidoperated clamping memher 334 will be actuated to clamp the tape at theupper end of the magazine. The banding cycle will now be initiated byrotation of the tape advancing rolls 308, 310 to push feed the prefedtape through the curved deflector guide 312 and into the nip of therolling mechanism. The tape is thus wound around the roll of fannedsheets until all of the slack in the preformed loop is taken upwhereupon the tape will become taut between the clamp 334- and therolling mechanism.

When the tape tightens it will attempt to lie in a straight line betweenthe clamp 334 and the rolling mechanism and will thus overcome thespring of the spring loaded guide 313 and depress the nozzle of theadhesive applying head 316 allowing adhesive to flow onto the tape. Asthe tightening progresses the tape will engage the blade of the fixedserrated knife 314, and the tape will be severed. Once the tape issevered it will continue to feed into the rolling mechanism and be woundaround the roll, the adhesively coated and overlapping the leading endand becoming adhesively secured thereto. The cut end of the tape will bestripped from the serrated knife blade 314 by the return of the springloaded guide 313 in readiness to be advanced during a succeeding cycleof banding operation. It will thus be seen that the taping mechanism iscapable of automatically prefeeding the correct length of banding tapefor any size roll.

The completed rolled and banded package is then stripped from themandrel 20 by the doffing mechanism 27 which may include a motor 336having an elongated shaft 338 provided with a pinion 340 arranged tocooperate with a rack 342. The rack 342 is provided with a pusher plate344 movable along the mandrel 20, and when the banding operation iscompleted the motor 336 is energized to push the completed roll off theend of the mandrel. The removed roll may be discharged into a chute, notshown, to deliver the completed rolls to a suitable packaging or storagearea. Prior to removing the completed roll from the mandrel the rollingbelt 200 is arranged to be held stationary at a point between the guiderolls 214, 216 by a solenoid operated clamping mechanism indicated at346. At this time the belt driving rolls 228, 230 will pull the springload tensioning block 220 to the right and as a result the belt 200 willbecome relaxed between the roll 230 and the roll 214, thus relaxing theportion of the belt wrapped around the banded roll of fanned sheets topermit the roll to be removed from the mandrel.

All of the above operations may and preferably will be sequentiallycontrolled as indicated by the timing diagram shown in FIG. 12 and asdiagrammatically indicated in FIG. 1. The sequence of operation may bedescribed as follows: At the start of a cycle the belt tension controlblock 220 is in its extreme left hand position, as shown in FIG. 1, andrests against a belt control switch LS3. When the circuit is energized,closing of the control switch LS3 effects engagement of clutch C1 tostart rotation of the fanning mechanism shaft 124; actuates solenoid S1moving the web control arm 203 in; engages a clutch C2 to startoperation of the rolling belt 200; and releases the tape clamp solenoidS2.

After an initial increase in diameter of the roll of fanned sheetsswitch LS6 operates solenoid S1 rocking the web control arm 203 out. Thefanning mechanism 12 and the rolling mechanism 18 now continue inoperation until nearly the full predetermined diameter of the roll isreached, at which time the belt tension control block engages a manuallyadjustable limit switch LS4. Switch LS4 disengages clutch C1 stoppingthe fanning mechanism 12 and, simultaneously therewith, a time delayswitch TD1 is actuated. After a suitable time interval, about two andone-half seconds, switch TD1 actuatcs the tape clamp solenoid S2 andalso the tape feed clutch C3. Tape is now applied around the roll offanned sheets until the tape tightens and operates limit switch LS5which cooperates with the adhesive applying head 316.

Closing of the circuit at LS5 actuates a time delay switch TD2. After asuitable time interval, about one and one half seconds, switch TD2restores the time delay switch TD1 which disengages the tape feed clutchC3. Switch TD2 also actuates the belt clamp solenoid S3 to hold the beltat this point and to permit relaxation of the portion of the belt aboutthe roll preparatory to removing the roll from the mandrel. Switch TDZalso act-uates time delay switch TD3. After a suitable time interval,about one-fifth of a second, switch TD3 shuts off belt clutch C2, andalso starts the dofling motor M2. Doffing now occurs, shutting off alimit switch LS2, and when the dofler completes its stroke it engages alimit switch LS1 which actuates the doffing motor reversing switch RS1.

The dotfer now returns and turns on limit switch LS2 which shuts olfdofiing motor M2. Switch LS2 also restores the dofling motor reversingswitch RS1. Limit switch LS2 also restores the time delay TD3 to offposition; releases the belt clamp solenoid S3; and restores switch TD2to off position. The belt tension control block 220 now moves outwardafter the belt clamp S3 is released, and this restores the limit switchLS4 to off position. When the block 220 reaches its outer position, itcontacts limit switch LS3, restarting the cycle.

From the above description it will be seen that the present apparatusfor fanning, rolling and banding flexible sheets embodies novel fanningmechanism capable of rapidly and efiiciently fanning and advancingsuccessive lowermost sheets or groups of sheets from a stack thereof toprovide an elongated web of fanned sheets adapted to be rolled andbanded. It will also be seen that the present apparatus embodies novelcontrol mechanism for efiecting operation of the apparatus in apredetermined sequence so as to permit automatic operation to producesuccessive rolled and banded packages of fanned sheets.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means forsupporting a stack of flexible sheets, means for bending a marginal edgeof a group of lowermost sheets to effect fanning of the edges of thesheets in the group relative to each other, and means for clamping thefanned edges of the sheets and returning the same to their initialposition whereby to effect longitudinal advancing movement of theunderlying sheets in the group from the stack in an amount equal to thefanning.

2. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means forsupporting a stack of flexible sheets, means for bending a marginal edgeof a group of lowermost sheets to effect fanning of the edges of thesheets in the group relative to each other, and means for clamping thefanned edges of the sheets and returning the same to their initialposition whereby to effect longitudinal advancing movement of theunderlying sheets in the group from the stack in an amount equal to thefanning, repeated bending, clamping and returning operations effectingprogressively increased fanning and longitudinal movement of the sheetsin the group to provide an elongated web of fanned sheets adapted to berolled and banded.

3. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means forsupporting a stack of flexible sheets, means for bending a marginal edgeof a group of lowermost sheets to effect fanning of the edges of thesheets in the group relative to each other, and means for clamping thefanned edges of the sheets and returning the same to their initialposition whereby to effect longitudinal advancing movement of theunderlying sheets in the group from the stack in an amount equal to thefanning, repeated bending, clamping and returning operationsprogressively increasing the fanning of the edges of the sheets in thegroup relative to each other and progressively increasing the advancingmovement relative to the 19 stack until the lowermost sheets of thegroup are entirely withdrawn from the stack, additional sheets beingsupplied by gravity from the stack to join the group as the underlyingsheets are withdrawn whereby to provide a continuous elongated web offanned sheets adapted to be rolled and banded.

4. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means forsupporting a stack of flexible sheets, means for bending a marginal edgeof a group of lowermost sheets to etfect fanning of the edges of thesheets in the group relative to each other, and means for clamping thefanned edges of the sheets and returning the same to their initialposition whereby to effect longitudinal advancing movement of theunderlying sheets in the group from the stack in an amount equal to thefanning, repeated bending, clamping and returning operationsprogressively increasing the fanning of the edges of the sheets in thegroup relative to each other and progressively increasing the advancingmovement relative to the stack until the lowermost sheets of the groupare entirely withdrawn from the stack, additional sheets being suppliedby gravity from the stack to join the group as the underlying sheets arewithdrawn whereby to provide a continuous elongated web of fanned sheetsadapted to be rolled and banded, means for supporting and advancing theweb thus produced, and means disposed to engage the leading edges of theweb to retain the sheets in their web formation when the trailing edgesof the sheets leave the stack supporting means.

5. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means forsupporting a stack of flexible sheets, means for bending a marginal edgeof a group of lowermost sheets to elfect fanning of the edges of thesheets in the group relative to each other, and means for clamping thefanned edges of the sheets and returning the same to their initialposition whereby to effect longitudinal advancing movement of theunderlying sheets in the group from the stack in an amount equal to thefanning, repeated bending, clamping and returning operations effectingprogressively increased fanning and longitudinal movement of the sheetsin the group to provide an elongated web of fanned sheets adapted to berolled and banded, said stack supporting means comprising a magazinehaving a front wall terminating a predetermined distance from the lowerend of the stack for limiting the thickness of the group, and having abottom wall terminating a predetermined distance rearwardly from theforward end of the stack and over which said marginal edge is bent toeifect the fanning operation.

6. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a magazinefor supporting a substantially vertical stack of flexible sheets, saidmagazine having a front wall terminating a short distance above thebottom of the stack leaving a group of lowermost sheets exposed, andhaving a bottom wall terminating a predetermined distance rearwardlyfrom the forward end of the stack over Which the forward edges of thegroup overhang, means arranged to engage and bend downwardly over theedge of said bottom wall the exposed and overhanging forward edges ofthe group to fan the edges of the sheets in the group, means forclamping the fanned edges of the group and returning the same to itsinitial position to effect advancement of the group out of the stack inan amount equal to the fanning of the sheets, repeated fanningoperations eifecting progressively increased fanning and advancement ofthe group to effect withdrawal of the lowermost sheets of the group fromthe magazine and lowering of the stack to provide additional sheets tothe top of the group whereby to provide an elongated web of fannedsheets of predetermined thickness adapted to be rolled and banded.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein the magazine isarranged to support the stack at a rearwardly inclined angle to presentthe forward edges of the group in a slightly prefanned condition.

8. The combination as defined in claim 6 which includes a conveyer forreceiving and advancing the web, and a pair of nip rolls cooperatingwith the web and disposed a sheet length forwardly of the edge of saidbottom wall to retain the sheets in their web formation when thetrailing edges of the sheets leave the magazine.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8 which includes guide meansdisposed above the web between the fanning elements and the nip rollsfor confining the upward movement of the web during the fanningoperation.

10. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein bending and clampingmeans include pivotally mounted rocker arms, and means for rocking saidarms in a manner such as to maintain the bending and clamping elementsin spaced relation during the downstroke and in clamping engagement withthe web during the upstroke.

11. The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein the means for rockingsaid arms includes a pair of eccentrics, one eccentric being out ofphase with the second eccentric whereby to effect said spacedrelationship of the bending and clamping elements during the downstrokeand clamping relationship during the upstroke.

12. The combination as defined in claim It) wherein the bending arm andthe clamping arm are mounted on dilferent centers disposed so thatduring the upstroke the top sheet of the group will be returned to itsoriginal position and the underlying sheets will be advanced an amountequal to the fanning produced during the downstroke.

13. The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein the bending meansincludes an elongated blade carried by its rocker arm, and the clampingmeans includes an elongated resilient element carried by its rocker arm.

14. The combination as defined in claim 11 which includes a shaft onwhich said eccentrics are mounted, means for rotating said shaft, andmeans mounted on said shaft for statically and dynamically balancing theshaft to avoid excessive vibration.

15. In apparatus of the character described, means for supporting astack of flexible sheets, and means for progressively fanning andlongitudinal-1y advancing a group of a predetermined thickness of thelowermost sheets from the bottom of the stack to effect eventualwithdrawal of successive lowermost sheets upon repeated fanning andadvancing operations, additional sheets being supplied from the stack tojoin the top of the group upon withdrawal of the lowermost sheetswhereby to form a continuous elongated web of fanned sheets adapted tobe rolled and banded.

16. The method of producing an elongated web of fanned sheets from astack thereof which consists in bending downwardly the forward edges ofa group of lowermost sheets in the stack to spread the forward edgesrelative to each other, then clamping the spread edges and returning thegroup to its initial position to effect forward movement of theunderlying sheets of the group relative to the stack in an amount equalto the spread of the edges, and repeating the bending, clamping andreturning operations to increase the spreading and forward movement ofthe group whereby to provide an elongated web of spread sheets adaptedto be rolled and banded.

17. The method of producing an elongated web of fanned sheets from astack thereof which consists in bending downwardly the forward edges ofa group of lowermost sheets in the stack to spread the forward edgesrelative to each other, then clamping the spread edges and returning thegroup to its initial position to effect forward movement of theunderlying sheets of the group relative to the stack in an amount equalto the spread of the edges, and repeating the bending, clamping andreturning operations to increase the spreading and forward movement ofthe group to effect withdrawal of the lowermost sheets of the group andadditions of sheets to the top of the group from the stack whereby toprovide a I2 continuous elongated web of spread sheets adapted to berolled and banded.

18. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means forfanning and advancing from the lower end of a stack a continuous web offanned leaflets, means for rolling the web including a mandrel and abelt wrapped around the mandrel by and between which the web is receivedand rolled, means for driving the belt, belt tension takeup mechanismpermitting the belt to expand about the roll as the diameter of the rollincreases, and control means responsive to said belt tension takeupmechanism for discontinuing the operation of the fanning means when theroll reaches a predetermined diameter.

19. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means forfanning and advancing from the lower end of a stack a continuous web offanned leaflets, means for rolling the web including a mandrel and adriven belt wrapped around the mandrel by and between which the web isreceived and rolled, means movable into engagement with the leading endof the web to guide the same into the nip of the belt and the mandrel atthe start of the rolling operation, means responsive to an initialincrease in diameter of the roll for withdrawing said guide means, belttension takeup mechanism permitting the belt to expand about the roll asthe diameter of the roll increases, and control means responsive to saidbelt tension takeup mechanism for discontinuing the operation of thefanning means when the roll reaches a predetermined diameter.

20. In "apparatus of the character described, in combination, means forfanning and advancing from the lower end of a stack a continuous web offanned leaflets, means for rolling the web including a mandrel and abelt wrapped around the mandrel by and between which the web is receivedand rolled, means for driving the belt, belt tension takeup mechanismpermitting the belt to expand about the roll as the diameter of the rollincreases, and control means responsive to said belt tension takeupmechanism for discontinuing the operation of the fanning means when theroll reaches a predetermined diameter, means for applying a band aboutthe roll including means operatively connected to said belt tensiontakeup mechanism for prefeeding a predetermined length of banding tapein an amount related to the circumference of the roll during the rollingoperation, means also responsive to said belt takeup mechanism after apredetermined time interval for clamping the trailing end of said tapeand for feeding and guiding the leading end of the tape into the nip ofthe belt and the roll, continued winding of the tape around the rollcausing the tape to become taut between the clamping means and the roll,adhesive applying means disposed to engage and apply adhesive to thetrailing end of the tape when the latter becomes taut, and a stationaryblade also engaging the taut tape to sever the same upon continued pullof the tape against the blade during the winding operation.

21. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means forfanning and advancing from the lower end of a stack a continuous web offanned leaflets, means for rolling the web including a mandrel and abelt wrapped around the mandrel by and between which the web is receivedand rolled, means for driving the belt, belt tension takeup mechanismpermitting the belt to expand about the roll as the diameter of the rollincreases, control means responsive to said belt tension takeupmechanism for discontinuing the operation of the fanning means when theroll reaches a predetermined diameter, means for applying a band aboutthe roll including means operatively connected to said belt tensiontakeup mechanism for prefeeding 'a predetermined length of banding tapein .an amount related to the circumference of the roll during therolling operation, means also responsive to said belt takeup mechanismafter a predetermined time interval for clamping the trailing end ofsaid tape and for feeding and guiding the leading end of the tape intothe nip of the belt and the roll, continued winding of the I tape aroundthe roll causing the tape to become taut between the clamping means andthe roll, adhesive applying means disposed to engage and apply adhesiveto the trailing end of the tape when the latter becomes taut, and astationary blade also engaging the taut tape to sever the same uponcontinued pull of the tape against the blade during the windingoperation, means responsive to the operation of said adhesive applyingmeans after a predetermined time delay during which the tape iscompletely wound about the roll and the ends of the band adhesivelysecured for discontinuing the operation of said tape feeding means andfor clamping a portion of the belt to effect relaxing of the portion ofthe belt wrapped around the roll preparatory to removal of the roll fromthe mandrel.

22. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means forfanning and advancing from the lower end of a stack a continuous web offanned leaflets, means for rolling the web including a mandrel and abelt wrapped around the mandrel by and between which the web is receivedand rolled, means for driving the belt, belt tension takeup mechanismpermitting the belt to expand about the roll as the diameter of the rollincreases, control means responsive to said belt tension takeupmechanism for discontinuing the operation of the fanning means when theroll reaches a predetermined diameter, means for applying a band aboutthe roll including means operatively connected to said belt tensiontakeup mechanism for prefeeding a predetermined length of banding tapein an amount related to the circumference of the roll during the rollingoperation, means also responsive to said belt takeup mechanism after apredetermined time interval for clamping the trailing end of said tapeand for feeding and guiding the leading end of the tape into the nip ofthe belt and the roll, continued winding of the tape around the rollcausing the tape to become taut between the clamping means and the roll,adhesive applying means disposed to engage and apply adhesive to thetrailing end of the tape when the latter becomes taut, and a stationaryblade also engaging the taut tape to sever the same upon continued pullof the tape against the blade during the winding operation, meansresponsive to the operation of said adhesive applying means after apredetermined time delay during which the tape is completely wound aboutthe roll and the ends of the band adhesively secured for discontinuingthe operation of said tape feeding means and for clamping a portion ofthe belt to effect relaxing of the portion of the belt wrapped aroundthe roll preparatory to removal of the roll from the mandrel, means alsoresponsive to the operation of said adhesive applying means after afurther predetermined time interval for discontinuing driving of thebelt and for removing the completely banded roll from the mandrel, meansresponsive to movement of the roll removing means for reversing themovement of the same, and means responsive to return of the rollremoving means for discontinuing the movement thereof and for releasingsaid belt clamp means, and means responsive to return of the belttension take-up means to its initial position upon removal of the rolland release of the belt clamp for initiating a succeeding cycle offanning, rolling and banding operations.

23. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means (forrolling a web of leaflets including a mandrel and a driven belt wrappedaround the mandrel by and between which the web is received and rolled,belt tensioning taken-p mechanism permitting the belt to expand aboutthe roll as the diameter of the roll increases, and means for applying aband of tape around the completed roll including means operativelyconnected to said belt tension takeup mechanism for prefeeding a lengthof tape from a supply thereof in an amount related to the circumferenceof the roll during the rolling operation, means for clamping thetrailing end of said tape,

means for feeding the leading end of the tape into the nip of said beltand the roll, continued winding of the tape around the roll causing thetape to become taut between the clamping means and the roll, adhesiveapplying means disposed to engage and apply adhesive to the trailing endof the tape when the tape becomes taut, and a stationary blade alsoengaging the taut tape to sever the same upon continued pull of the tapeagainst the blade during the winding operation, said tape continuing towind about the roll to present the trailing end of the tape inoverlapping relation to and adhesive engagement with the leading endthereof.

24. In apparatus of the character described, in combination means forsupporting a roll having a driven belt wrapped thereabout effectingrotation of the roll, and means for applying a band of tape about saidroll including means for prefeeding a length of tape from a supplythereof in an amount related to the circumference 01f the roll, meansfor clamping the trailing end of the prefed tape, means for feeding theleading end of the tape into the nip of said belt and the roll to effectwinding of the tape about the rotating roll, continued winding of thetape around the roll causing the tape to become taut between theclamping means and the roll, adhesive applying means disposed to engageand apply adhesive to the trailing end of the tape when the tape becomestaut, and a stationary blade also engaging the taut tape to sever thesame upon continued pull of the tape against the blade during thewinding operation, said tape continuing to wind about the roll topresent the trailing end of the tape in overlapping relation andadhesive engagement with the leading end thereof.

25. The combination as defined in claim 24 which includes a magazineinto which the prefed tape is deposited preparatory to winding the sameabout the roll.

26. The combination as defined in claim 24 wherein the prefeeding meansis deactivated upon clamping of the trailing end of the tape.

27. The combination as defined in claim 26 wherein the tape tteedingmeans is deactivated upon application of adhesive to and severance ofthe trailing end of the tape.

28. The combination as defined in claim 24 wherein provision is made forstripping the new leading end of the severed tape from the bladepreparatory to a succeeding banding operation.

29. In apparatus of the character described, in combination means forapplying a band of tape about a roll including means for prefeeding alength of tape in an amount related to the circumference of the roll,means for clamping the trailing end of the prefed tape, means forfeeding the leading end of the tape into operative position to be Woundabout the roll, winding of the tape about the roll causing the tape tobecome taut between the clamp and the roll, and a stationary bladedisposed to be engaged by the taut tape and arranged to sever the tapeupon continued pull of the tape against the blade during the Windingoperation.

30. The combination as defined in claim 29 which includes means forapplying adhesive to the trailing end of the tape, said trailing endbeing subsequently engaged in overlapping relation to the leading end ofthe tape and adhesively secured thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,006,009 10/1911Sargent 53ll8 2,759,727 7/1950 Bromber g 271-38 X TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE,Primary Examiner.

T. S. MCGEHEE, Examiner.

16. THE METHOD OF PRODUCING AN ELONGATED WEB OF FANNED SHEETS FROM ASTACK THEREOF WHICH CONSISTS IN BENDING DOWNWARDLY THE FORWARD EDGES OFA GROUP OF LOWERMOST SHEETS IN THE STACK TO SPREAD THE FORWARD EDGESRELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, THEN CLAMPING THE SPREAD EDGES AND RETURNING THEGROUP TO ITS INITIAL POSITION TO EFFECT FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THEUNDERLYING SHEETS OF THE GROUP RELATIVE TO THE STACK IN AN AMOUNT EQUALTO THE SPREAD OF THE EDGES AND REPEATING THE BENDING, CLAMPING ANDRETURNING OPERATIONS TO INCREASE THE SPREADING AND FORWARD MOVEMENT OFTHE GROUP WHEREBY TO PROVIDE AN ELONGATED WEB OF SPREAD SHEETS ADAPTEDTO BE ROLLED AND BANDED.